UAlbany's Mike Black drives to the basket during the second half of...

UAlbany men's basketball coach Will Brown celebrates a score by his players during the first half of their 88-63 victory over Hartford at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

UAlbany men's basketball coach Will Brown celebrates a score by his players during the first half of their 88-63 victory over Hartford at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

UAlbany's John Puk, right, and Gerardo Suero, left, defend Hartford's Nate Sikma, second from left, during the first half of UAlbany's 88-63 victory at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

UAlbany's John Puk, right, and Gerardo Suero, left, defend...

UAlbany men's basketball coach Will Brown talks to his team during a timeout in the second half of their 88-63 victory over Hartford at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

UAlbany men's basketball coach Will Brown talks to his team during...

Official Jeffrey Anderson, left, keeps UAlbany men's basketball coach Will Brown, right, and Hartford coach John Gallagher, center, separated as he tries to calm the two men after a UAlbany player sustained a hard foul, during the second half of their 88-63 victory over Hartford at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

Official Jeffrey Anderson, left, keeps UAlbany men's basketball...

UAlbany's Jayson Guerrier is fouled during the second half of their 88-63 victory over Hartford at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

UAlbany's Jayson Guerrier is fouled during the second half of their...

UAlbany's Jayson Guerrier, #30, is fouled during the second half of their 88-63 victory over Hartford at SEFCU Arena on Monday Jan. 2, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

UAlbany's Jayson Guerrier, #30, is fouled during the second half of...

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ALBANY — Before Monday night's America East opener with Hartford, the University at Albany basketball team was given the choice: white uniforms or gold.

No contest. The Danes wanted to stick with what was working, and that was the white uniforms with the gold and purple trim.

The Danes won their first four games wearing those threads. And, after putting them on again Monday, UAlbany is 5-0 at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (9-6 overall, 1-0 America East) placed four players in double figures and rolled to an 88-63 victory over winless Hartford in front of 2,147.

"This group has a goal to go undefeated at home,'' UAlbany coach Will Brown said after the Danes scored a season high in points. "And I hope they achieve that goal because that would mean we would have a pretty good conference season.''

When asked if the goal was one made by the players or the coaching staff, Brown said it was a little bit of both.

"Our veterans understand how important it is to play well at home,'' Brown said. "We want (opposing) coaches to look at stat sheets and say, 'They are 6-0 at home,' of 'They are 5-0 at home. It will take a great effort to beat them because Albany doesn't lose at home.' That puts pressure on teams. They know they are going to have to play well. With each win, you get more and more relaxed at home."

It didn't take long for the Danes to get comfy against the Hawks. Hartford (0-13, 0-1) only led once, and that was 2-0. From there, it was basically whatever the Danes wanted to do, they did.

Four of them scored in double figures, led by Gerardo Suero's 24 points and nine rebounds. Earlier in the day, Suero was named the America East Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 25 points in two games last week.

Logan Aronhalt added 17 points and five rebounds against Hartford and point guard Mike Black had 15 points and nine assists. All 11 players who dressed for the Danes played, and nine of them scored.

Sophomore center John Puk added seven points and a career-high 11 rebounds against the overmatched Hawks, who have seven freshmen on the roster, and three of them start.

"Albany is an excellent basketball team,'' Hartford coach John Gallagher said. "That is a good, solid mid-major team. I haven't seen everyone, but if they are not one of the top three teams in the league, I'm going to have to put a helmet on before games."

The Danes did not get caught up in playing one of the six winless teams left in the country. Brown said that assistant coach Jeremy Friel, who had the scout against Hartford, stressed to the team that the Hawks were coming in without a win.

"Any win is a good win, especially in league play," Aronhalt said. "They will get tougher and tougher. It's important for us to learn how to play with a lead and extend that lead."

That had been a problem for the Danes in several nonconference games, the most notable being when they blew a 19-point lead against Siena and lost by four.

There would be no such issues on this night. UAlbany had a 40-28 lead at halftime, and led by as many as 26 points in the second half.